Interim Protection for Workers

It will take some time for test results (which determine whether workers are exposed above the PEL) to return from the laboratory. In that time, employers must provide what OSHA calls "interim worker protection." This includes providing specific tools and materials to workers with specific, high-exposure tasks.

The tools and materials are as follows:

• Respiratory protection
• Protective work clothing and equipment
• Hygiene facilities
• Biological monitoring
• Training

These tools and materials are for the following activities:

• Manual demolition of structures (for example, dry wall removal)
• Manual scraping and sanding
• Using a heat gun in the presence of lead-containing coatings or paints
• Power tool cleaning (with or without local exhaust ventilation)
• Spray painting with lead-containing paint
• Burning lead
• Use of lead-containing mortar
• Abrasive blasting
• Rivet busting
• Welding, cutting, or torch burning any structure with lead-containing coatings or paint
• Cleanup activities for dry expendable abrasives
• Any other task the employer thinks could cause exposure over the PEL

To learn more about Construction Lead Safety visit our Construction Lead Safety Online Training Certification web page.